Shloka 11
Jājali–Tulādhāra-saṃvāda: Yajña, Vṛtti, and Ātma-tīrtha (जाजलि-तुलाधार-संवादः)
तस्य तद् वचन श्रुत्वा नारदो5थ तपोधन: । आख्यानमिदमाचष्ट पुत्रशोकापहं तदा,राजाका वह कथन सुनकर तपस्याके धनी नारदजीने उस समय उनसे यह प्राचीन इतिहास कहना आरम्भ किया, जो उनके पुत्रशोकको मिटानेवाला था
tasya tad vacanaṁ śrutvā nārado ’tha tapodhanaḥ | ākhyānam idam ācāṣṭa putraśokāpahaṁ tadā ||
Bhishma disse: Ouvindo as palavras do rei, Nārada—rico em poder ascético—passou então a narrar, naquele momento, esta antiga história, destinada a afastar a dor pela perda de um filho. O episódio enquadra a consolação não como mero conforto, mas como instrução: a tristeza se alivia ao compreender o dharma, a natureza do destino e os limites do controle humano.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Grief is addressed through dharmic understanding: a wise teacher uses instructive narrative (ākhyāna) to dispel sorrow, pointing the listener toward perspective on impermanence, destiny, and right conduct rather than mere emotional reassurance.
After hearing the king’s words, the sage Nārada begins narrating an ancient account specifically described as ‘removing grief for a son.’ The verse functions as a transition: it introduces a consolatory story within Bhīṣma’s discourse in the Śānti Parva.